A generous dining area joining onto kitchen and family room

Timber-Lantern House

Mcmahon and Nerlich

View to double-height dining room

Waterfront Cottage

Chango

Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Construction by G. B. Construction and Development, Inc. Photography by Jonathan Pilkington

Acucraft Residential Custom Gas Fireplaces

Acucraft Fireplaces

Acucraft custom gas linear fireplace with glass reveal and blue glass media.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

Chuckanut Builders

The dining room and kitchen flow seamlessly in this mid-century home. The white walls and countertops create visual space while the beautiful white oak cabinets provide abundant storage. Both the exposed wood ceiling and oak floors were existing, we refinished them and color matched new trim as needed.

Beacon Hill Mid-Century

Lauren Colton

Jaime Alvarez

View of the dining room.

Hart Modern Farmhouse

American Cabinet Suppliers

Jeff & Amanda Photography and Films

Hewn House

Matt Fajkus Architecture

The cabin typology redux came out of the owner’s desire to have a house that is warm and familiar, but also “feels like you are on vacation.” The basis of the “Hewn House” design starts with a cabin’s simple form and materiality: a gable roof, a wood-clad body, a prominent fireplace that acts as the hearth, and integrated indoor-outdoor spaces. However, rather than a rustic style, the scheme proposes a clean-lined and “hewned” form, sculpted, to best fit on its urban infill lot. The plan and elevation geometries are responsive to the unique site conditions. Existing prominent trees determined the faceted shape of the main house, while providing shade that projecting eaves of a traditional log cabin would otherwise offer. Deferring to the trees also allows the house to more readily tuck into its leafy East Austin neighborhood, and is therefore more quiet and secluded. Natural light and coziness are key inside the home. Both the common zone and the private quarters extend to sheltered outdoor spaces of varying scales: the front porch, the private patios, and the back porch which acts as a transition to the backyard. Similar to the front of the house, a large cedar elm was preserved in the center of the yard. Sliding glass doors open up the interior living zone to the backyard life while clerestory windows bring in additional ambient light and tree canopy views. The wood ceiling adds warmth and connection to the exterior knotted cedar tongue & groove. The iron spot bricks with an earthy, reddish tone around the fireplace cast a new material interest both inside and outside. The gable roof is clad with standing seam to reinforced the clean-lined and faceted form. Furthermore, a dark gray shade of stucco contrasts and complements the warmth of the cedar with its coolness. A freestanding guest house both separates from and connects to the main house through a small, private patio with a tall steel planter bed. Photo by Charles Davis Smith

Classic Urban

Vernon Wentz

This is a wonderful mid century modern with the perfect color mix of furniture and accessories. Built by Classic Urban Homes Photography by Vernon Wentz of Ad Imagery

Walnut Creek Modern Farmhouse (Larkey Park)

The Home Co.

Marcell Puzsar, Bright Room Photography

My Houzz: A Personal Vision for a New Orleans Home

Kayla Stark

Open Plan Dining

Green Sheep Collective

Smart home is a joyful renovation project in Seddon for a family teeming with curiosity. The design included adding an open plan living, dining and kitchen to an existing heritage home. It seeks to make smart, effective use of very tight spaces. A mezzanine over the pantry and study nook utilises the volume created by the cathedral ceiling, while large openable skylights increase the perception of light and space, and double as 'thermal chimneys' to assist natural ventilation processes in summer.

2017 Beville Avenue Remodel

Revive Urban

Brooke Littell Photography

KAG Developments Styling - TRES Photograph - Dylan Lark

Pembridge Crescent, Notting Hill, London, W11

Domus Nova

Naturally, many of the pieces were sourced from Portobello Road. “I love 1970s lighting, and so I spent hours on the Portobello Road sourcing original lights,” says the owner. “I also made the large mirror using an old picture frame from one of the local shops, spraying it and getting a mirror put in. Similarly with the glass cabinet – it was a cheap purchase which I sprayed entirely black aside from the back which was painted purple. I also inserted a blue light into it, and now it’s my favourite piece". The EXIT sign is from Islington – perfect for when guests overstay their welcome.

Vancouver Special

EDSO Construction Ltd

We utilized the height and added raw plywood bookcases.

Mid Century Modern Meets 2020

Fox Interiors

Dining Room Design Ideas with White Walls and a Brick Fireplace Surround

A dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!